Die for love, p.22
Die for Love, page 22
She knew he wasn’t angry with her, but with himself. That didn’t make his attitude any easier to accept.
The elevator arrived. He stormed onto it and finally faced her.
“You saved us, Ryder. I know you don’t think that, but—”
“It won’t happen again, Diana. I won’t ever let anyone get that close to hurting my family again,” he said, and finally relaxed a little. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her body against his.
“I know, Ryder. Just don’t keep me away, either.”
Epilogue
Michaela bumped open the apartment door with her hip, her hands filled with bags from the grocery. She had spent the later part of the afternoon with Diana, who was still home on maternity leave and adjusting to being a mother alongside being a kick-ass FBI agent. And trying to adjust to Ryder’s new moodiness. But at least he seemed to be healing nicely—physically, anyway—from the beating he had suffered at the hands of Michaela’s father.
Her father.
It had been nearly two weeks since she’d killed him and brought closure to that age-old wound.
Nearly two weeks since that fateful meeting with the Slayer Council.
She hadn’t met with them again. They were all still trying to figure out how the Council would work now. How she and Benjamin, as well as Diana and Ryder, would affect the Slayers and their mission.
A more humane mission, she thought as she lugged the grocery bags to the kitchen and unpacked them, spreading out the ingredients to make dinner.
A first. She wasn’t much of a cook, although her mother had been. Some of Michaela’s fondest memories were of her and her mother in the kitchen preparing dinner together.
It was time to build those kinds of memories again—but with J.
She had just started chopping the veggies when J came in. She heard the familiar clink of his keys in the ceramic dish in the small foyer of the apartment, the heavier thunk of his briefcase as he set it down.
Seconds later he was at the kitchen door, a look of amusement on his face. “Am I really seeing this? You’re cooking?”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she teased. She laid down her knife on the chopping board and approached him. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“I’m glad too,” he said, bent his head, and kissed her hungrily. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning,” she replied with a smile.
“Yeah, I did, and I want to see you every morning, Michaela,” he said, reached into his jacket pocket, and withdrew a small, velvet box.
Her hand shook as he placed it on her palm, and she opened it. The ring inside was a carat-sized diamond surrounded by sapphire baguettes.
“The sapphires remind me of your eyes,” he said as he took the ring out of the box and reached for her hand.
“J, I don’t know what to say.” She’d kind of proposed to him already, and hadn’t really thought they’d go the whole traditional route.
He winked. “Considering I already said ‘yes’ to your proposal weeks ago, all I want to hear is, ‘I love you, J.’ ”
She gazed up at him, her heart filled with so much love she thought it might burst. “I love you, J. With all my heart and soul. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.” She hugged him tight, knowing that as long as she had him in her life, she could handle anything.
Vampires.
Slayers.
Maybe even babies like her friend Diana.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too, Michaela.” He kissed her again. “So how about I help you make dinner?” he said. He pulled off his jacket and walked to the chopping board, where he began to expertly slice the bell pepper she had left there.
“That sounds like a plan, J.” And it sounded so normal, like something an average couple would do.
Michaela thought of all that awaited them in the future. Like making a thousand more dinners together, growing old together, being a real family. She smiled.
Yeah. She could learn to do normal.
Copyright Notice
Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the publisher as “unsold or destroyed” and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Caridad Piñeiro Scordato
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of Caridad Piñeiro Scordato.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
Visit Caridad’s website at www.caridad.com.
DIE FOR LOVE Cover design ©2015 Caridad Pineiro Scordato
Manufactured in the United States of America
About the Author
NY Times and USA Today Bestseller Caridad Pineiro is a Jersey Girl who just wants to write, travel, and spend more time with family and friends. Caridad is the author of nearly 50 novels/novellas and loves romance novels, super heroes, TV and cooking. Caridad writes dark and sexy romantic suspense, erotic military romance, and paranormal romances for those who live to love on the edge. Her sweet, but still naughty side, Charity Pineiro, writes contemporary romances packed with emotion and humor. For more information on Caridad/Charity, please visit http://www.caridad.comor http://www.rebornvampirenovels.com. You can also find Caridad/Charity on:
Twitter at https://twitter.com/caridadpineiro
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author
Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/caridadpineiro/
Tsu at https://www.tsu.co/CaridadPineiro
Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/Caridad_Pineiro
Additional Books by the Author
Additional Books by the Author Writing as Charity Pineiro
NOW AND ALWAYS June 2013 ISBN 1490362770
FAITH IN YOU July 2013 ISBN 1490412697
TORI GOT LUCKY December 2013
THE PERFECT MIX March 2013
TO CATCH HER MAN April 2014
SECOND CHANCE AT PERFECT October 2014
Additional Books by the Author Writing as Caridad Pineiro
Novellas in the Take a Chance Military Romance Series
ONE NIGHT OF PLEASURE, March 2015
STAY THE NIGHT, December 2014
TAKE A CHANCE Box set, November 2014
ONE LAST NIGHT, October 2014
ONE SPECIAL NIGHT, August 2014
JUST ONE NIGHT, June 2014
Books in The Gambling for Love Romantic Suspense Series
THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE November 2012 ISBN 9781622668007 Entangled Publishing
TO CATCH A PRINCESS August 2013 ISBN 9781622661329 Entangled Publishing
Books in The Sin Hunter Paranormal Romance Series
THE CLAIMED May 2012 ISBN 978-0446584609 Forever Grand Central Publishing
THE LOST August 2011 ISBN 978-0446584616 Forever Grand Central Publishing
STRONGER THAN SIN November 2010 ISBN 0446543845 Forever Grand Central Publishing
SINS OF THE FLESH November 2009 ISBN 0446543837 Forever Grand Central Publishing
Other Novels by Caridad
THE FIFTH KINDOM July 2011 ISBN 9781426891885 Carina Press
SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD Dec 2008 ISBN 0373276109 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Novellas
FIGHT THE SHADOWS, a Shadow Ops Thriller, June 2015, Amazon Kindle Worlds
GHOST OF A CHANCE, paranormal short story November 2012 ISBN B00AUGV89G
HER VAMPIRE LOVER October 2012 ISBN 9781459242289 Nocturne Cravings Novella
NIGHT OF THE COUGAR June 2012 ISBN 9781459231153 Nocturne Cravings Novella
THE VAMPIRE’S CONSORT April 2012 ISBN 9781459222731 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
NOCTURNAL WHISPERS February 2012 ISBN 9781459221437 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
AMAZON AWAKENING December 2011 ISBN 9781459282766 Available Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
WHEN HERALD ANGELS SING novella in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS October 2011 ISBN 0373776446 HQN
AZTEC GOLD January 2011 ISBN 9781426891045 Carina Press Novella
Crazy for the Cat in MOON FEVER Oct 2007 ISBN 1416514902 Pocket Books
Books in THE CALLING/THE REBORN Vampire Novel Series
VAMPIRE REBORN, April 2014
DIE FOR LOVE, December 2013, Entangled Publishing
BORN TO LOVE, November 2013, ISBN 9781622663705 Entangled Publishing
TO LOVE OR SERVE, October 2013, ISBN 9781622663477 Entangled Publishing
FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE, September 2013, ISBN 9781622662937 Entangled Publishing
KISSED BY A VAMPIRE (formerly ARDOR CALLS) October 2012 ISBN 9780373885589 Harlequin Nocturne
AWAKENING THE BEAST Collection featuring HONOR CALLS October 2009 ISBN 0373250940 Silhouette Nocturne
FURY CALLS March 2009 ISBN 0373618077 Silhouette Nocturne
HONOR CALLS February 2009 ISBN 9781426828362 Nocturne Bite
HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE December 2007 ISBN 0373617763 Silhouette Nocturne
THE CALLING COMPLETE COLLECTION October 2008 ISBN 9781426807657 Silhouette Includes Darkness Calls, Danger Calls, Temptation Calls, Death Calls, Devotion Calls, and Blood Calls–as well as the online read Desire Calls.
BLOOD CALLS May 2007 ISBN 0373617631 Silhouette Nocturne
DEVOTION CALLS January 2007 ISBN 0373617550 Silhouette Nocturne
DEATH CALLS Dec 2006 ISBN 0373617534 Silhouette Nocturne
TEMPTATION CALLS Oct 2005 ISBN 0373274602 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DANGER CALLS June 2005 ISBN 0373274416 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DARKNESS CALLS Mar 2004 ISBN 0373273533 Silhouette Intimate Moments
Romantic Suspense Series
SECRET AGENT REUNION Aug 2007 ISBN 0373275463 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
MORE THAN A MISSION Aug 2006 ISBN 037327498X Silhouette Intimate Moments
Contents
DIE FOR LOVE
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Epilogue
Copyright Notice
About the Author
Additional Books by the Author
Caridad Pineiro, Die for Love
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The elevator arrived. He stormed onto it and finally faced her.
“You saved us, Ryder. I know you don’t think that, but—”
“It won’t happen again, Diana. I won’t ever let anyone get that close to hurting my family again,” he said, and finally relaxed a little. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her body against his.
“I know, Ryder. Just don’t keep me away, either.”
Epilogue
Michaela bumped open the apartment door with her hip, her hands filled with bags from the grocery. She had spent the later part of the afternoon with Diana, who was still home on maternity leave and adjusting to being a mother alongside being a kick-ass FBI agent. And trying to adjust to Ryder’s new moodiness. But at least he seemed to be healing nicely—physically, anyway—from the beating he had suffered at the hands of Michaela’s father.
Her father.
It had been nearly two weeks since she’d killed him and brought closure to that age-old wound.
Nearly two weeks since that fateful meeting with the Slayer Council.
She hadn’t met with them again. They were all still trying to figure out how the Council would work now. How she and Benjamin, as well as Diana and Ryder, would affect the Slayers and their mission.
A more humane mission, she thought as she lugged the grocery bags to the kitchen and unpacked them, spreading out the ingredients to make dinner.
A first. She wasn’t much of a cook, although her mother had been. Some of Michaela’s fondest memories were of her and her mother in the kitchen preparing dinner together.
It was time to build those kinds of memories again—but with J.
She had just started chopping the veggies when J came in. She heard the familiar clink of his keys in the ceramic dish in the small foyer of the apartment, the heavier thunk of his briefcase as he set it down.
Seconds later he was at the kitchen door, a look of amusement on his face. “Am I really seeing this? You’re cooking?”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she teased. She laid down her knife on the chopping board and approached him. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“I’m glad too,” he said, bent his head, and kissed her hungrily. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning,” she replied with a smile.
“Yeah, I did, and I want to see you every morning, Michaela,” he said, reached into his jacket pocket, and withdrew a small, velvet box.
Her hand shook as he placed it on her palm, and she opened it. The ring inside was a carat-sized diamond surrounded by sapphire baguettes.
“The sapphires remind me of your eyes,” he said as he took the ring out of the box and reached for her hand.
“J, I don’t know what to say.” She’d kind of proposed to him already, and hadn’t really thought they’d go the whole traditional route.
He winked. “Considering I already said ‘yes’ to your proposal weeks ago, all I want to hear is, ‘I love you, J.’ ”
She gazed up at him, her heart filled with so much love she thought it might burst. “I love you, J. With all my heart and soul. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.” She hugged him tight, knowing that as long as she had him in her life, she could handle anything.
Vampires.
Slayers.
Maybe even babies like her friend Diana.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too, Michaela.” He kissed her again. “So how about I help you make dinner?” he said. He pulled off his jacket and walked to the chopping board, where he began to expertly slice the bell pepper she had left there.
“That sounds like a plan, J.” And it sounded so normal, like something an average couple would do.
Michaela thought of all that awaited them in the future. Like making a thousand more dinners together, growing old together, being a real family. She smiled.
Yeah. She could learn to do normal.
Copyright Notice
Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the publisher as “unsold or destroyed” and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Caridad Piñeiro Scordato
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of Caridad Piñeiro Scordato.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
Visit Caridad’s website at www.caridad.com.
DIE FOR LOVE Cover design ©2015 Caridad Pineiro Scordato
Manufactured in the United States of America
About the Author
NY Times and USA Today Bestseller Caridad Pineiro is a Jersey Girl who just wants to write, travel, and spend more time with family and friends. Caridad is the author of nearly 50 novels/novellas and loves romance novels, super heroes, TV and cooking. Caridad writes dark and sexy romantic suspense, erotic military romance, and paranormal romances for those who live to love on the edge. Her sweet, but still naughty side, Charity Pineiro, writes contemporary romances packed with emotion and humor. For more information on Caridad/Charity, please visit http://www.caridad.comor http://www.rebornvampirenovels.com. You can also find Caridad/Charity on:
Twitter at https://twitter.com/caridadpineiro
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author
Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/caridadpineiro/
Tsu at https://www.tsu.co/CaridadPineiro
Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/Caridad_Pineiro
Additional Books by the Author
Additional Books by the Author Writing as Charity Pineiro
NOW AND ALWAYS June 2013 ISBN 1490362770
FAITH IN YOU July 2013 ISBN 1490412697
TORI GOT LUCKY December 2013
THE PERFECT MIX March 2013
TO CATCH HER MAN April 2014
SECOND CHANCE AT PERFECT October 2014
Additional Books by the Author Writing as Caridad Pineiro
Novellas in the Take a Chance Military Romance Series
ONE NIGHT OF PLEASURE, March 2015
STAY THE NIGHT, December 2014
TAKE A CHANCE Box set, November 2014
ONE LAST NIGHT, October 2014
ONE SPECIAL NIGHT, August 2014
JUST ONE NIGHT, June 2014
Books in The Gambling for Love Romantic Suspense Series
THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE November 2012 ISBN 9781622668007 Entangled Publishing
TO CATCH A PRINCESS August 2013 ISBN 9781622661329 Entangled Publishing
Books in The Sin Hunter Paranormal Romance Series
THE CLAIMED May 2012 ISBN 978-0446584609 Forever Grand Central Publishing
THE LOST August 2011 ISBN 978-0446584616 Forever Grand Central Publishing
STRONGER THAN SIN November 2010 ISBN 0446543845 Forever Grand Central Publishing
SINS OF THE FLESH November 2009 ISBN 0446543837 Forever Grand Central Publishing
Other Novels by Caridad
THE FIFTH KINDOM July 2011 ISBN 9781426891885 Carina Press
SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD Dec 2008 ISBN 0373276109 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Novellas
FIGHT THE SHADOWS, a Shadow Ops Thriller, June 2015, Amazon Kindle Worlds
GHOST OF A CHANCE, paranormal short story November 2012 ISBN B00AUGV89G
HER VAMPIRE LOVER October 2012 ISBN 9781459242289 Nocturne Cravings Novella
NIGHT OF THE COUGAR June 2012 ISBN 9781459231153 Nocturne Cravings Novella
THE VAMPIRE’S CONSORT April 2012 ISBN 9781459222731 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
NOCTURNAL WHISPERS February 2012 ISBN 9781459221437 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
AMAZON AWAKENING December 2011 ISBN 9781459282766 Available Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
WHEN HERALD ANGELS SING novella in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS October 2011 ISBN 0373776446 HQN
AZTEC GOLD January 2011 ISBN 9781426891045 Carina Press Novella
Crazy for the Cat in MOON FEVER Oct 2007 ISBN 1416514902 Pocket Books
Books in THE CALLING/THE REBORN Vampire Novel Series
VAMPIRE REBORN, April 2014
DIE FOR LOVE, December 2013, Entangled Publishing
BORN TO LOVE, November 2013, ISBN 9781622663705 Entangled Publishing
TO LOVE OR SERVE, October 2013, ISBN 9781622663477 Entangled Publishing
FOR LOVE OR VENGEANCE, September 2013, ISBN 9781622662937 Entangled Publishing
KISSED BY A VAMPIRE (formerly ARDOR CALLS) October 2012 ISBN 9780373885589 Harlequin Nocturne
AWAKENING THE BEAST Collection featuring HONOR CALLS October 2009 ISBN 0373250940 Silhouette Nocturne
FURY CALLS March 2009 ISBN 0373618077 Silhouette Nocturne
HONOR CALLS February 2009 ISBN 9781426828362 Nocturne Bite
HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE December 2007 ISBN 0373617763 Silhouette Nocturne
THE CALLING COMPLETE COLLECTION October 2008 ISBN 9781426807657 Silhouette Includes Darkness Calls, Danger Calls, Temptation Calls, Death Calls, Devotion Calls, and Blood Calls–as well as the online read Desire Calls.
BLOOD CALLS May 2007 ISBN 0373617631 Silhouette Nocturne
DEVOTION CALLS January 2007 ISBN 0373617550 Silhouette Nocturne
DEATH CALLS Dec 2006 ISBN 0373617534 Silhouette Nocturne
TEMPTATION CALLS Oct 2005 ISBN 0373274602 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DANGER CALLS June 2005 ISBN 0373274416 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DARKNESS CALLS Mar 2004 ISBN 0373273533 Silhouette Intimate Moments
Romantic Suspense Series
SECRET AGENT REUNION Aug 2007 ISBN 0373275463 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
MORE THAN A MISSION Aug 2006 ISBN 037327498X Silhouette Intimate Moments
Contents
DIE FOR LOVE
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Epilogue
Copyright Notice
About the Author
Additional Books by the Author
Caridad Pineiro, Die for Love
